Publisher: Harvard Business Publishing Essay Examples

Introduction to Security: Chapter 5

Summary:
One of the most important leadership qualities is the ability to listen, since conversation is said to be a two-way dialogue, and listening gives the capacity to motivate and inspire the employees. To be able to do this, there are six important steps that would enable leaders to have an ear to their employees. First is to make listening a priority, to have the will to open up one’s ears to the opinions of their employees. Second is to know themselves, since listening relies on empathy, which in turn would rely on one’s personality traits. Third is to get rid of the distractions, to enable them to get the whole picture, so that they can be active in the conversation. Fourth is the need to look for nonverbal cues, since words that are not spoken sometimes become more meaningful and/or suggestive. Fifth is to control reactions and prevent overreacting to certain information, which can discourage other people from sharing their thoughts. Sixth and final is to take time to validate the information being exchanged, since an effective listener should make sure that what is being expressed is true and valid. Strong leaders should communicate well; thus, they should be a good listener.

Concept/Terminology:

This article is directly connected to the topic of “leadership qualities” situated in the fifth chapter of the book. Just like what is being expressed in the book, the qualities of a leader are very important, especially since leadership is based primarily on the ability to communicate with other people. A leader cannot rule or manage a group without the capacity to engage other people to joining a strong conversation. Communication is vital in leadership, and with this comes the need to listen well, just like what the author of the article, Sara Stibitz (2015), was trying to say. Thus, what Stibitz (2015) wrote appears to be so important in the managing of groups. The author even wrote two examples of cases, which shows how vital listening is when managing or leading a group. The article is very useful to those in the business and health industries, as well as those in education and politics.

Reference:

Stibitz, S. (2015, January 30). How to really listen to your employees. Retrieved February 11, 2015, from https://hbr.org/2015/01/how-to-really-listen-to-your-employees.